ADVOCACY 101 PRESENTED BY: CAITRIN MCCARRON SHUY, DIRECTOR, CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS
OVERVIEW 1. Opening Discussion 2. Congress – the Basics 3. Political Context 4. Why Advocate? 5. Talking to Congress 6. Being an advocate from home 7. Resources 8. Public Health Advocacy topics
OPENING DISCUSSION • What your impression of Congress? • Does it fail to enact Tribal priorities? • What do you think you can do to help? • How many of you have advocated before? What barriers do you encounter when advocating?
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS U.S. House of Representatives 435 voting Members of Congress (MOCs) apportioned by population (Delegates and Commissioners Participate But Do Not Vote.) • About 26% Represent Indian Tribes 2 – Year Terms Rules – Majority will always prevail!
US HOUSE BY STATE DELEGATION (115TH CONGRESS)
REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO LOSE HOUSE IN 2018 Analysis • 2016 – Republicans Lost 6 seats in the House of Representatives • Previously had been their biggest majority since 1928. • 2018 – Map is not favorable to Republicans – current 237 R to 193 D (4 vacancies)
TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS U.S. Senate Two per each of 50 States = 100 72% Represent Indian Tribes 6 Year Terms Rules - Deference to minority. Filibuster.
REPUBLICANS RETAIN MAJORITY IN SENATE AT JUST 1
WHO IS IN CONGRESS?
WHO IS IN CONGRESS?
CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE STRUCTURE Sample Organization of a Congressional Office Member of Congress Chief of Staff Policy Staff Communications Staff Office Staff District Staff Legislative Personal Communication Director/Counse Assistant/ District Director s Director l Scheduler Legislative District Legislative Aide Staff Assistant Correspondent Caseworkers Source: “Hit the Ground Running: 112 th Congress Edition,” Office of Rep. Eric Cantor.
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Senator Representative Introduces bill in the Senate* Introduces bill in the House of Representatives* Congress Senate Committee/Subcommittee House Committee/Subcommittee Passed bills sent Releases Revises & Releases Table Releases Revises & Releases Table to other s s chamber unless similar measures Senate floor House floor are already Bill is read, debated and amended; Bill is read, debated and amended; under simple majority needed to pass simple majority needed to pass consideration Passes different bill Passes different bill than House than Senate Conference Committee** Writes compromise bill. That bill goes back to both houses for final approval; approved bill is sent to the President President signs President vetoes White 2/3 vote in Congress can Bill becomes Law House override veto *Legislation may be introduced in either chamber except for tax law, which must originate in the House **Most major legislation goes to conference committee; When one chamber passes legislation originating in the other without making changes, bill goes directly to President
HOW A BILL DOES NOT BECOME A LAW Process and obstacles for enacting and enforcing laws If the law is challenged in court, a judge can rule to prevent enforcement with an injunction and may eventually strike down the law Executive orders or signing Enacted Signed by president statements can prevent a law from being enforced as originally intended President vetoes bill, Congress can override veto Analysi An ysis with a supermajority vote • Even if a bill manages to pass both chambers of Congress, the president can use vetoes, executive orders, or signing statements to prevent the bill from being enacted or enforced • Opponents of the bill, including those outside of the legislative process, can prevent the law from being enacted by mounting a successful legal challenge
ONLY 3% OF BILLS INTRODUCED IN 114TH CONGRESS BECAME LAW A breakdown of the legislative process in the 114 th Congress Number� of� bills� and� resolutions,� by� stage� of� consideration (114th� Congress) Only 5% of bills introduced 9,663 made it to the floor of either the House or Senate, a marker that the bill enjoyed serious deliberation 669 561 329 93 Referred� to� committee Ordered�reported� by� Passed� House Passed� Senate Enacted committee Analysis • The vast majority of legislation (86%) in the 114th Congress failed to become law, and most never even came close; only 5% of bills and resolutions were voted on in at least one chamber
POLITICAL CONTEXT Congress’ overall productivity is diminishing over time:
FEDERAL BUDGET OVERVIEW • Two Types of Federal Spending: Mandatory and Discretionary • Discretionary : Annual Appropriations – Defense; Environment; Veterans Affairs; Indian Health Service; BIA; BIE; Transportation; FDA – most federal agencies • Benefits : Can change from year to year (increase); ALWAYS passes Congress so stability is there • Cons : Can change from year to year (decrease); Top-line discretionary spending getting cut – compete with other priorities • Mandatory : Spending that Congress legislates outside of the annual appropriations process -- Social Security; Medicare, CHIP; Medicaid; SDPI • Benefits : Funding is more stable because authorization = appropriation • Cons : Must pass legislation to exist as a program; funding level is rigid
FEDERAL SPENDING 2017
POLITICAL CONTEXT THE FEDERAL BUDGET • Discretionary as a percentage is going down over time
IHS SINCE 2008… IHS has increased by about $2.2 billion since FY 2008 • About 52% increase overall • Hospitals And Clinics increased 38% • Purchased / Referred Care: increased 66% • Contract Support Costs increased 168% • Facilities increased (not including ARRA) (131%) IHS APPROPRIATIONS FYS 2008- 2018 $6,000,000.00 $5,500,000.00 $5,000,000.00 $4,500,000.00 $4,000,000.00 $3,500,000.00 $3,000,000.00 FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
FY 2019 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET Meanwhile…. The President Submitted his FY 2019 budget to Congress on February 12 $3.6 trillion in domestic spending cuts, including a 21% cut to the Department of Health and Human Services Eliminates LIHEAP Major cuts to Cuts SNAP Eliminates the Community Services Block Grant $10 billion investment in opioid funding at HHS • $150 million in “competitive grants” at IHS to address the opioid crisis
FY 2019 PRESIDENT’S BUDGET – INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE FY 2019 proposes $5.4 billion for IHS in FY 2019 Increases to Hospitals and Clinics / Purchased Referred Care / Mental Health Alcohol and Substance Abuse Eliminates Community Health Representatives; Health Education programs • "to prioritize direct health care services and staffing and operating costs for new and replacement facilities." No (known) investment in Health IT, despite VA receiving $1.2 billion Moves SDPI (and certain other health programs) from “mandatory” to “discretionary” funding. February 16 – Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup wrote to the Office of Management and Budget Director asking for better consultation on the budget and emphasizing the support for CHRs and Health Education Deadline to Testify before House Appropriations is April 6, 2018 for Hearings on May 9 and 10 – visit www.appropriations.gov and go to the Interior, Environment Subcommittee
WHERE DO WE ADVOCATE? Pillars of Advocacy
WHO SHOULD WE BE TALKING TO?
YOUR OWN SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES • You should always establish a good relationship with your own Senators and Representatives • Invite them to Tribally sponsored events on the reservation • Make sure you know the district staff in your area. • Call local office to set up meetings • Visit www.senate.gov or www.house.gov to find your representatives • It is recommended to know all representatives from your state – especially if they are on the relevant committees
OTHER KEY HOUSE PLAYERS • Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), NA Caucus Co-Chair / Labor H Chair • Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), NA Caucus Co-Chair / Interior Approps Ranking • Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42), Interior Appropriations Chair • Congressman Greg Walden, Chairman, Energy and Commerce Committee • Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Energy and Commerce Committee, Health Subcommittee Member, IHS designee • Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Energy and Commerce committee • Don Young (AK-AL) • Chair of Subcommittee for American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs • Norma Torres (CA0 • Ranking Democrat for American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs
OTHER KEY SENATE PLAYERS FOR INDIAN HEALTH • John Hoeven (ND) • Lisa Murkowski (AK) • John Thune (SD) • John Tester (MT) • Tom Udall (NM) • Heidi Heitkamp (ND)
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